Method of reeling rods



Nov. 3, 1953 A. w. STRACHAN METHOD OF REELING RODS Filed March l5, 1950 .n-m-h.

l lnveno." Q fm/mie Kimm/MM Patented Nov. 3, 1953 METHOD F REELING RODS Alexander W. Strachan, Monongahela, Pa., as-

signor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 13, 1950, Serial No. 149,351

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of reeling steel rods. In order to form as little scale as possible on hot rolled rods, the hot rolled rods are quenched with water as they emerge from the last pass Gf the mill prior to being reeled into bundles. The water quenching makes it possible to cool the rods from a temperature between approximately l700 and 2000 F. down to a temperature of between about 1000 and 1600 F. Rods which have been so drastically quenched become so stiff that the leading end of the rod as it is fed into the rapidly revolving reel mechanism will not wrap itself about the pins of the reel but instead will cobble or bunch together into a mass of twisted scrap.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a method of reeling hot rolled rods that will overcome the above mentioned diiculties.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following description and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a schematic View of the apparatus of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a detail of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the last roll stand of a hot rod mill. Rod R passes through the roll stand 2 into the bell mouth 4 of a guide pipe 5 and then into a bell mouth 8 leading into the water cooler box I0. The water quenching means consists of a number of sectional elements I2 within the box I0. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the elements I2 is made up of concentric tubes I4 and I6 having a space I8 therebetween. The inner tube I4 is provided with a plurality of holes 20 therein drilled at an angle of 45 to a radius through the wall thereof in order to allow water to enter the inner portion 22 of the pipe I 4 through which the rod R passes. Water is delivered into the space I8 from a header 24 through branch pipes 26. A pipe 28 connects the header 24 to the main water line. The flow of the water into the pipe 28 is manually controlled by means of valve 30 and is automatically controlled by means of a quick acting water valve 32 which is operated by a solenoid 34. The solenoid 34 is controlled by means of a contactor 36, which in turn, is operated by an electric eye 38. A polished reflector 40 is located on the opposite side of the pass line from the electric eye 38. In order to provide for manual operation, a by-pass 42 is provided around the valve 32. A manually operated valve 44 is provided in the by-pass 42. The rod R passes from the cooling bOX I0 through a pipe 46 to the reel 48. The reel 48 has a housing 50 within which are guide pins 52 mounted on a member 54 which is rotated by means of gearing 56.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the rod R passes under the electric eye 38,

(Cl. 14S-21.55)

the electric eye is energized to operate contactar 36 which in turn energizes the solenoid 34 to open quick acting valve 32. This starts the flow of water into the header 24, thence into the space I8 and then through the holes 20 to spray the rod passing therethrough. I have found that 'the speed of the incoming rod is so great that by the time the p-hotoelectric cell actuates solenoid 34 to open valve 32 and lill the cooling sections !2 with water to quench the rod, between 25 and 65 feet of rod will have passed through the sections I2. This uncooled portion of the rod will readily wrap itself about the pins 52 of the reeler, thus eliminating cobbling. Once the rod is securely wrapped around the pins of the reel, the quenched rod will follow without damage. After the rod R passes from under the electric eye 38, the valve 32 will close and Water will drain from the cooling sections I2 into the cooling box I0 and hence through a drain pipe v58. The apparatus will then be ready to receive the next rod. If the normal time delay is insufficient to permit enough uncooled rod to pass into the reeler 48, the solenoid 34 may be provided with a time delay to give the necessary time interval. If desired, the method could be carried out by manually opening the valve 44 at the desired time.

While one embodiment of my invention-has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of reeling hot rolled steel rods comprising passing the hot rolled rod from a rolling mill to a reel, wrapping at least one complete convolution of the forward end of the hot rod around the reel in order to secure the rod on the reel without quenching it, and quenching the remainder of the rod before reeling it.

2. The method of reeling hot rolled steel rods comprising passing the hot rolled rod from arolling mill to a reel, wrapping at least one complete convolution of the forward end of the hot rod around the reel in order to secure the rod on the reel while at a temperature of between about 1700" and 2000 F., and quenching the remainder of the rod to a temperature of between about 1000 and 1600 F. before reeling it.

ALEXANDER W. STRACHAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 459,903 Bildt Sept. 22, 1891 895,973 Daniels Aug. 11, 1908 1,075,702 Edwards Oct. 14, 1913 1,696,806 Lehr Dec. 25, 1928 2,020,940 Gassen Nov. 12, 1935 2,271,379 Statz et al. Jan. 27, 1942 2,516,248 OBrien July 25, 1950 

1. THE METHOD OF REELING HOT ROLLED STEEL RODS COMPRISING PASSING THE HOT ROLLED ROD FROM A ROLLING MILL TO A REEL, WRAPPING AT LEAST ONE COMPLETE CONVOLUTION OF THE FORWARD END OF THE HOT ROD AROUND THE REEL IN ORDER TO SECURE THE ROD ON THE REEL WITHOUT QUENCHING IT, AND QUENCHING THE REMAINDER OF THE ROD BEFORE REELING IT. 